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Moral Deterioration In Macbeth

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Macbeth’s Moral Deterioration Throughout the years where ruling and power took place everyone has always wanted to feel powerful and wouldn't stop at any lengths to have it even if it means hurting others along the way and choosing the wrong path . For others not so much, but some will choose anything to have power for instance in the tragedy of Macbeth. This is a story of an unsuccessful ruler who became king by murdering and manipulation. He chose to kill and lie in order to have power. His immoral decisions eventually lead him into extreme feelings of guilt and remorse later on in the tragedy. This doesn’t stop Macbeth from continuing to commit murder for his own selfish gains and to become king but in the regrets the path he has chosen. …show more content…

He chooses to do this even after the effect of the first murder he did. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth plan to have a dinner and invite Banquo to this dinner to kill him because they both are afraid that Banquo will be suspicious of King Duncan’s murder since Banquo was there when Macbeth received the prophecy that Macbeth would be king, they also try to kill Banquo’s son fleance so that no one related to Banquo will be the throne. He then regrets killing banquo because his ghost appears causing Macbeth’s paranoia to grow. Quotations: (Act. 3, Scene 4, pg.109 lines 162-172) Macbeth: I hear it by the way; but I will send. There’s not a one of them but in his house I keep a servant fee'd. I will tomorrow And betimes I will to the Weird Sisters. More shall they speak, for now I am bent to know By the worst means the worst. For mine own good, All the causes shall give way. I am in blood Stepped in so far that, I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o’er, Strange things I have in head that will to hand, Which must be acted ere they may be scanned. So then Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo who shames Macbeth bringing regret to himself and pushing him deeper into remorse. Even though Macbeth regrets what he has done and wants to go back in time and undo what he has done, but he is stuck with guilt, remorse and contrition. This quote shows that Macbeth wishes he could go back to having a clear consciences and had not committed those crimes. Nevertheless Macbeth has already gone in too deep with his immoral acts that he cannot get away

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Greed and jealousy live inside everyone, but one must refrain from these thoughts to prevent self destruction. In William Shakespeare's Elizabethan era Tragedy Macbeth, Shakespeare uses betrayal as a vehicle for obtaining power for selfish means, and illustrates the grave costs of betrayal to the individual. Greed often fuels an uncontrolled lust for power. Shakespeare reveals the extent of Macbeth’s greed when Macbeth's first thought regarding the witches prophecy stir thoughts of murder: “ My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical”(I.iii.152). Most individuals do not think one should murder someone to obtain what you desire.

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With Macbeth being a general in the Scottish military, he had major influences on people and their daily lives. After the murder of King Duncan, Banquo’s suspicion of who committed the murders arose around a single suspect, Macbeth. Knowing that Banquo most likely knew the truth that Macbeth killed King Duncan, Macbeth went back to his evil ways with ease. Through his attendant, Macbeth summons three murderers. Shakespeare introduces the murders with stage direction “[Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers]” (Shakespeare, 363), in which Macbeth he uses Banquo as bait in order to gain their graces and loyalty “That it was he in the times past which held you so under fortune, which you thought had been our innocent self: this I made good to you in our last conference, pass'd in probation with you, how you were borne in hand, how cross'd, the instruments, who wrought with them, and all things else that might, so half a soul and to a notion crazed, Say 'Thus did Banquo.'”

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As a result Jealousy and regret filled his mind when he reasoned that Banquo’s Children would inherit the throne and not his own. In the story we see that Macbeth starts to see Banquo's “light” and admits consistently that Banquo has so much things going for him and is the only real threat Macbeth sees. It is most noticeable in the story when Macbeth says

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Even though he did not physically kill him by himself, he still committed a crime. Macbeth did not desire to kill his own best friend or he will feel a sympathy of turning back on killing him. Banquo’s ghost created a scene that determined he was guilty of shooting down his loyal friend for no good

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He knew the blame would be pinned on the three murderers and taken off himself. If caught, the 3 men would be killed; and, it was them who had the blood from crime stained on their hands. So, when Macbeth comes face to face with Banquo’s ghost, he tells it, “thou canst not say I did it” (3.4.62) and he is free of his crime. Due to his greed, he salvaged himself

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(2.2.33-41). The motif of guilt is present because Macbeth is haunted by his murdering Duncan. He feels remorseful for committing such a crime and he tells himself that he will not be able to sleep anymore because of his guilt. This conveys the theme because with Macbeth not confessing to his crime, the guilt stays and leads to his downfall. When Macbeth hosts a dinner party at his castle, he sees Banquo’s ghost and he starts to talk to it.

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Additionally, it also accentuates the unjust nature of Banquo’s murder later on. This is due to the fact that unlike Macbeth, he remained true to his reputation until his death. The night that King Duncan is scheduled to visit Macbeth’s, Lady Macbeth warns him to act normal to avoid suspicion and

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it finds heaven, must find it out tonight” (III, ii, 161-2). In this quote, Macbeth explicitly states that he is going to murder Banquo because to protect his kingship. This showcases Macbeth’s motivation to achieve his goal, at any cost. He is willing to murder his kinsmen to achieve his goal.

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When Banquo’s ghost is looking at him Macbeth feels guilt. He says that he technically did not kill Banquo in that someone else did. Even though Macbeth ordered the death of Banquo he's not the one who physically killed Banquo. This makes him technically not guilty of murder. When Banquo’s ghost accuses him of murder, Macbeth is quick to say that he was not the only to kill him.

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Similarly, he sent murderers to kill him as he was fearful of the loss of his kingship. Macbeth’s relationship with Banquo has more significance to him than his relationship with Duncan, thus, him betraying Banquo affected him with a greater impact than his betrayal of Duncan. This is evidenced by how his guilt takes the form of Banquo and not

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Macbeth’s impatience for power leads to drastic actions. He murders the king in the belief that “this blow might be the be-all and end-all” (1.7.5). This assassination could never “trammel up the consequence” (1.7.2-3), as Macbeth believes, but only leads to more trouble. Although Macbeth seizes the throne, Macbeth had to betray his loyalty to the king whose “virtues will plead like angels” (1.7.18-19), and his morality has paid the price. Macbeth has now lost all sense of what honor is by using such dishonest ways to become king.

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Because the prophecy decreed Banquo’s sons kings, Macbeth is worried about his legacy not being carried on, and Duncan’s death being for nothing. To prevent killing in vain, Macbeth decided to kill again. This vicious cycle leads to him giving up some of his self control every time he

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Throughout the play we see Macbeth continuously dig himself deeper into this hole where he is committing murder and destroying his reputation, sanity, and family. He seeks the throne and succumbs to the ambition sacrificing his morals. It seems Macbeth crafts this character who puts all sense of ambition before any morals or principles to show how dangerous that can be. Throughout Shakespeare’s

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I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on 't again I dare not.” (Act II, sc ii, Lines 48-50). Macbeth is getting extremely paranoid and feels bad killing Duncan. Macbeths ambitions caused him to murder Duncan, but he also had Banquo murdered, and wanted to murder Banquo 's son, Fleance. Macbeth wants Banquo killed because he saw him as a threat; however, Banquo had been Macbeth 's friend and thought he could trust him. "

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